Irish Studies Calendar
Spring 2012
A series of Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, and Lectures
Sponsored by the Center for Irish Programs, Boston College
Admission to events is free
Event contact: irish@bc.edu or 671-552-6396
Web: http://www.bc.edu/gaelicroots
Monday, March 12, 2012, at 4 p.m.
Devlin Hall, Room 101
Professor Angela Bourke will present, in conjunction with the exhibition, "Rural Ireland: the Inside Story", a lecture titled:
Visiting the Claddagh: Artists and Others, 1840-1914
The McMullen Museum will be open prior to Professor Bourke's talk.
This event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, March 15, 2012, 10 a.m.
Andover Room, Connolly House
Frances Fitzgerald TD, Irish Cabinet Minister for Children and Youth will speak about the new protocol that she, together with her Northern Ireland counterpart, Health Minister Edwin Poots, have launched for cross border cooperation in child protection. Minister Fitzgerald's interests, and those of the Boston College Center for Irish Programs, reflect a shared commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. This event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, March 22, 2012, 10 a.m.
Andover Room, Connolly House
Shane O'Neill, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queens University Belfast will meet with Boston College administrators, faculty and students as part of the Center for Irish Program's continuing effort to promote ever-closer faculty and student interest between Boston College and Queens University Belfast. Dean O'Neill, a professor of political theory, is widely published on the politics of diversity and the Northern Ireland peace process as a model of conflict resolution. This event is free and open to the public.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Burns Library, Thompson Room
Burns Visiting Scholar Dermot Keogh will present a lecture titled:
"Contrasting STudies of Irish Catholic Intellectuals in a Revolutionary Age, 1908-1919"
Following the lecture, refreshments will be served in the Irish Room of the Burns Library. This event is free and open to the public.
Irish Dance & Ceili, directed by Kieran Jordan, T.C.R.G.
With live music by Seamus Connolly & friends
Gasson Hall Irish Room
Thursday, March 29, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Irish Dance and Ceili - Directed by Boston College's Irish dance faculty member, Kieran Jordan, with live music by Seamus Connolly and friends. Dances will be taught by Kieran and dancers of all ages and levels are welcome. Kieran is an internationally recognized performer, teacher and choreographer of Irish dance. Winner of an Artist Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Philadelphia native holds a bachelor's degree from Boston College, a master's in contemporary dance performance from the University of Limerick, and the T.C.R.G. certificate for teaching Irish dance. Originally from County Clare, master fiddle player Seamus Connolly is Sullivan Family Artist-in-Residence in Irish Programs, where he directs the Irish music and dance programs on campus. Connolly performs and teaches internationally, and his music honors include ten All-Ireland fiddle championships and the Fiddler of Dooney award.
Irish Songs, a concert by the Cathie Ryan Band with Patsy O'Brien on guitar and Matt Mancuso on fiddle.
Walsh Hall Function Room, located at 150 St. Thomas More Rd. on BC's Chestnut Hill campus
Thursday, April 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cathie Ryan has established herself as one of the most prominent singer-songwriters in the world of Celtic music. She was the lead singer of Cherish the Ladies for seven years, has released four critically acclaimed CDs on Shanachie Records, and is featured on more than forty compilations of Celtic music, including A Woman's Heart - A Decade On. The Detroit-born Ryan is a frequent performer on radio and television in the United States and Europe, and was voted one of the Top 100 Irish Americans by Irish America Magazine. Her repertoire spans a wide range of material, including songs in Irish along with her own compositions.
Irish Accordion, Fiddle, and Song
Concert by Seamus Begley and Oisin Mac Diarmada
Walsh Hall Function Room, located at 150 St. Thomas More Road on BC's Chestnut Hill campus
Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Singer, accordionist and storyteller Seamus Begley hails from the Irish-speaking area of Dingle, County Kerry. A member of the renowned musical Begley family, he began singing and playing fiddle at a young age in County Clare. He subsequently moved to County Sligo, where he developed a deep interest in the musical style of the North Connacht region. Founder of the musical group Teada, Mac Diarmada is also a regular solo performer, appearing recently as guest soloist with the Southern Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
Directions to 2101 Commonwealth Ave.:
From the East (Boston): The parking entrance for Brighton campus is one half mile west of Chestnut Hill Avenue. Turn right at the sign marked "construction entrance", 300 feet west of Greycliff Road. 2101 Commonwealth Avenue, formerly the Cardinal's residence, will be on your right.
From the West (Newton): Driving east on Commonwealth Avenue, continue past the Boston College main gate. Cross the Lake Street intersection, and continue east on Commonwealth Avenue for another 0.2 miles. With Evergreen Cemetery on your right, make a U-turn and travel west on Commonwealth Avenue for 0.1 miles. Turn right at the sign marked "construction entrance," 300 feet west of Greycliff Road. 2101 Commonwealth Avenue, formerly the Cardinal's residence, will be on your right.
Public transportation: The closest MBTA green line stop is the B line's "Boston College" stop. Cross Lake Street and continue walking 0.1 miles east on Commonwealth Avenue. Enter Brighton Campus at the "construction entrance." 2101 Commonwealth, formerly the Cardinal's residence, will be on your right. The 86 bus route is another nearby option.
Inclement weather: visit http://www.bc.edu/bcinfo for updates on weather-related cancellations at BC.